Facsimile machine with combined transmission data and transmitted image data divided for printing according to print sheet size except final page

ABSTRACT

A facsimile machine with a plurality of cassettes which is capable of printing a transmission report including first data and second data on a printing sheet accommodated in the cassette where the first data being a result of the transmission and the second data being an image data of a transmitted data, said facsimile machine includes: a memory unit for storing the first data and the second data therein to be read out; an editing unit for reading out the first data and the second data from the memory unit and formulating a resultant data; a sheet size set unit for detecting and setting a size of printing sheet on which the resultant data is to be printed; a divider unit for dividing the resultant data into a plurality of block data according to the size set by the sheet size set unit; a judgment unit for judging whether the block data corresponding to the last page of report is solely the second data; and a print control unit for inhibiting printing of the second data on the last page of report when it is judged that the block data corresponding to the last page of report is solely the second data by the judgment unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improvement of facsimile machine with afunction of printing a report on a result of data transmission uponcompletion of the data transmission via facsimile (hereinafter referredto as monitor report).

Conventionally, there have been known facsimile machines with a functionof printing a monitor report. FIG. 5 shows an example of monitor reportoutputted from the facsimile machine, in which a lead portion oftransmitted image data (usually a cover page of the transmitted imagedata or a lead end portion of the cover page) additionally followsinformation advising a user of a result on data transmission (e.g.,completion or failure of data transmission). The lead portion oftransmitted image data is added for the user to verify or identify thecontents of transmitted data.

In facsimile machines, usually, such report is prepared according to A4size format (standard size) and printed on A4-sized printing sheet(s)whose longer side is in parallel with the sheet transport direction insuch a manner that a lead portion of the transmitted image data followsthe information.

In the case where data of the monitor report is small enough to beprinted on at least one sheet of A4 size, the monitor report is printedin one sheet in such a way that the transmitted image data follows theinformation on a result of data transmission.

On the contrary, in the case where data of the monitor report has toconsume more than one sheet, e.g., common data was transmitted tovarious facsimile addresses sequentially (hereinafter referred to as"common data transmission"), the data on monitor report is divided intoa plurality of block data corresponding to the longer side of A4-sizedprinting sheet, and printed on a specified number of A4-sized printingsheets to output a monitor report consisting of the specified number ofpages, as shown in FIG. 5.

In such case, there may occur the case that the last page of monitorreport contains the transmitted image data only. It is not necessarilyrequired for the facsimile machine to output the last page containingthe transmitted image data alone, as far as the user can identify thestate of data transmission following the preceding page(s) showing theinformation on data transmission.

If the facsimile machine is capable of inhibiting printing out of thelast page of report containing the transmitted image data alone in theabove case, it would reduce consumption of printing sheets and shortenan overall operation time for the facsimile machine.

Further, in the conventional facsimile machines, when the facsimilemachine runs short of A4-size printing sheets, the facsimile machinesare capable of printing data concerning the report on printing sheets ofthe size other than A4 size, e.g., B5 size (see FIG. 6), B4 size as longas printing sheets of these sizes are set such that one side thereof isgreater than the shorter side of A4-sized printing sheets.

In the above case (shortage of A4-sized printing sheets), the data onthe report is also divided into a plurality of block data correspondingto the side of the set printing sheet which is in parallel with thesheet transport direction, and these block data are output on aspecified number of the set printing sheets other than A4-sized printingsheets, page after page, thereby obtaining the monitor report consistingof the number of pages.

In this case, there also is the possibility that the last page ofmonitor report prints the transmitted image data alone. In similar tothe former case (output of monitor report concerning common datatransmission on A4-sized printing sheets), if the facsimile machine iscapable of inhibiting printing out of the last page of report containingthe transmitted image data alone, it would reduce consumption ofprinting sheets and shorten an overall operation time for the facsimilemachine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide afacsimile machine capable of reducing consumption of printing sheets byinhibiting printing of the last page of monitor report, if the last pagecontains transmitted image data alone.

It is another object of the invention to provide a facsimile machinecapable of shortening an operation time for facsimile machine by thetime required for printing the last page of monitor report by inhibitingprinting of the last page of monitor report, if the last page containstransmitted image data alone.

To accomplish the above objects, the present invention is directed to afacsimile machine with a plurality of cassettes, capable of printing atransmission report including first data and second data on a printingsheet accommodated in the cassette where the first data being a resultof the transmission and the second data being an image data of atransmitted data, comprises (a) a memory unit for storing the first dataand the second data therein to be read out; (b) an editing unit forreading out the first data and the second data from the memory unit andformulating a resultant data in a unit of predetermined size for thetransmission report; (c) a sheet size set unit for detecting and settinga size of printing sheet on which the resultant data is to be printed;(d) a divider unit for dividing the resultant data into a plurality ofblock data according to the size set by the sheet size set unit; (e) ajudgment unit for judging whether the block data corresponding to thelast page of report is solely the second data; and (f) a print controlunit for inhibiting printing of the second data on the last page ofreport when it is judged that the block data corresponding to the lastpage of report is solely the second data by the judgment unit.

The size set by the sheet size set unit is preferably the same as thesize of the predetermined size.

With the above arrangement, the editing unit edits the read out firstand second data in such a manner that the second data follows the firstdata to form a resultant data for the report, and the divider unitdivides the resultant data into a plurality of block data based on oneside of the printing sheet of the size set by the printing sheet sizeset unit. The print control unit controllably inhibits a print of thesecond data on the last page of the transmission report when it isjudged that the block data corresponding to the last page of report issolely the second data by the judgment unit.

In one aspect of the invention, the sheet size set unit includes asensor for detecting the size of printing sheets accommodated in thecassette and the sheet size set unit sets a printing sheet accommodatedin the other cassette whose size is smaller than the predetermined sizewhen the sensor detects the absence of printing sheets of thepredetermined size in the one cassette.

In another aspect of the invention, when the sensor detects the absenceof printing sheets of the predetermined size, the size of printingsheets set by the printing sheet size set unit is set such that thelonger side thereof is in parallel with the widthwise direction of themain body and greater than the width of the printing sheet of thepredetermined size.

In still another aspect of this invention, the printing sheet size setunit allows a selection of a printing sheet accommodated in the othercassette regardless of a detection result on the presence or absence ofprinting sheets of the predetermined size in the one cassette.

Yet another aspect of this invention, the facsimile machine furthercomprises a report output instruction unit for selectively instructingif the transmission report is to be outputted and inhibiting printing ofthe transmission report.

With the facsimile machine thus constructed, the size of printing sheeton which the report is to be printed is not limited to the predeterminedsize, but any size of printing sheet can be effectively used as far asthe printing sheet has one side greater than the shorter side of theprinting sheet of the predetermined size. In particular, the presentinvention is especially useful in the following case. In case that theprinting size set unit sets the size of printing sheet (e.g., B5 size)and B5 size printing sheets are placed such that a longer side thereofextends orthogonal to the sheet running direction, the B5 size printingsheet has a side parallel to the sheet running direction which issmaller than one side of printing sheet of the predetermined size (e.g.,A4 size) in the sheet running direction. As a result, the report printedon B5-sized printing sheets takes a larger number of pages than thereport printed on A4-sized printing sheets as illustrated in FIG. 6. Insuch case in particular, since the facsimile machine of the presentinvention can prohibit a print out operation of the last page if it isjudged that the last page contains only the transmitted image data andthe operator desires to do so, it shortens the operation time for thefacsimile machine and saves consumption of printing sheets.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon a reading of the followingdetailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective external view showing an embodiment of afacsimile machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal arrangement of the facsimilemachine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the facsimilemachine;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control operations of the facsimilemachine;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of monitor report concerningcommon data transmission; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of monitor report illustratinghow information on a result of data transmission and transmitted imagedata are to be printed on A4-sized printing sheet and B5-sized printingsheets without exercising the print control unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference tothe accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a facsimilemachine embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showingan internal arrangement of the facsimile machine.

Note that left and right directions in FIG. 2 is the lengthwisedirection of the facsimile machine, while front and rear directions inFIG. 2 is the widthwise direction of the facsimile machine.

The facsimile machine comprises main body 1 and automatic documentfeeder 2 arranged at the top of the main body 1. The main body 1comprises a scan unit 3 (optical mechanism), imaging assembly 4, sheetstorage portion 5, sheet transport mechanism 6, and operating panel 7 toenable image formation.

The automatic document feeder 2 includes a document setting portion 8and a document transport guide 9 on the right of the document settingportion in FIG. 2. Documents stacked on the document setting portion 8are fed one after another through the document transport guide 9 whichhas a U-shape and returned to the document setting portion 8, whilebeing transported along a specified document transport path.

Specifically, document feed roller 10, document separation roller pair11, document transport guide 9, document transport roller pair 12,document guide roller 13, and document discharge roller pair 14 definethe document transport path, and are disposed from upstream side withrespect to the document transport direction in this order. A contactglass 15 is arranged at a specified position between the documenttransport roller pair 12 and document guide roller 13 for reading animage of a document fed through the automatic document feeder 2. Acontact glass 16 is disposed at the top of the main body 1 having alength substantially over an entire length of the main body 1. Thecontact glass 16 is adapted for reading an image of a manually setdocument.

The feed roller 10 and one of the separation roller pair 11 (upperroller in FIG. 2) are rotated in the forward direction in synchronismwith each other, and a belt is stretched over the feed roller 10 and theupper separation roller 11 to feed the document forward. The documentfeed roller 10 is connected to the free end of an arm member (not shown)and is brought to a pressing contact state with a lead end upper surfaceof the uppermost document of a plurality of documents stacked on thedocument setting portion 8. Documents stacked on the document settingportion 8 are fed one after another by the rotation of the document feedroller 10 over the belt in the forward direction, separated by thedocument separation roller pair 11, and transported by the transportroller pair 12 to a specified position on the contact glass 15 where animage of the document is read. After having the image read one afteranother, the documents are returned to the document setting portion 8 bythe guide roller 13 and discharge roller pair 14 in the same state ashaving been stacked on the document setting portion before imagereading.

The scan unit 3 has a light source 31 including a halogen lamp to scan adocument image loaded on the contact glass 15 or 16. The light source 31travels at a specified speed in the lengthwise direction of the machinemain body, shown by the broken arrows ←- - - → in FIG. 2 (hereinafteralso referred to as sub-scanning direction). Light emitted from thelight source 31 is projected onto the document image to obtain a lightimage of the document image. The light image is reflected by a pluralityof reflecting mirrors 32a to 32e and lens 33 and guided to a chargecoupled device (CCD) 34. The CCD 34 (line image sensor) comprises anumber of photosensitive arrays aligned in parallel with the widthwisedirection of the main body 1 (hereinafter also referred to as mainscanning direction). The light image is focused on the CCD 34, therebypicking up the image.

More specifically, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, the lightimage is reflected by the reflecting mirrors 32a to 32e in this orderand picked up by the CCD 34 via the lens 33 line by line at apredetermined cycle to obtain image data respectively representing oneline of the document image, as the light source travels at the specifiedspeed in the sub-scanning direction. The image data thus picked up bythe CCD 34 are transmitted successively to an image processing portion35, where a specified image processing is conducted, and stored in amemory unit 101 (see FIG. 3).

Manual document setting is also available by manually lifting up thefrontal end of the automatic document feeder 2 and loading a document onthe document setting portion 8. In this case, note that an unillustratedguide member and drive motor are used to drive the scan unit 3 in thesub-scanning direction at a specified speed, thereby scanning an imageof the document manually loaded on the document setting portion 8.

How printing is conducted with the facsimile machine is describedhereafter.

The imaging assembly 4 includes a laser emitting device 40 andphotosensitive member 41 which is rotated in the clockwise direction byan unillustrated drive unit. In the proximity of the photosensitivemember 41, provided are main charger 42, developing portion 43, transferportion 44, and cleaner 45 in this order from upstream side with respectto the rotating direction of the photosensitive member 41.

After having been charged uniformly by the main charger 42, the surfaceof the photosensitive member 41 is exposed to modulated laser beamemitted from the laser emitting device 40 to obtain an electrostaticlatent image of the document image. Toner supplied from the developingportion 43 is electrically attracted to the latent image to develop thelatent image to a toner image, which in turn is transferred to aprinting sheet by the transfer portion 44.

Reference numeral 431 denotes a toner cartridge, and 432 denotes ahousing for loading the toner cartridge 431 thereon. Agitating rollers433, 433, whose respective rotary shafts extend in parallel with therotary axis of the photosensitive member 41, agitate toner supplied fromthe toner cartridge 431 through the housing 432 and feeds the toner to adeveloping roller 434.

The sheet storage portion 5 includes two cassettes 52, 52 in thisembodiment. The cassettes are detachably mounted to the machine mainbody 1 from the widthwise direction of the facsimile machine. In thisembodiment, one cassette 52 contains printing sheets of A4 size(standard format size) whose shorter side is in parallel with the widthof the main body 1, while the other cassette 52 contains printing sheetsof B5 size whose longer side is in parallel with the width of the mainbody 1.

The cassette 52 (52) is provided with a sheet placing member 51 on whicha plurality of printing sheets are to be loaded. A lead end (right sidein FIG. 2) of the sheet placing member 51 is biased upward through asupport member 54 by a biasing force of a spring 53, thereby beingbrought to pressing contact with a sheet feed roller 55. A sheetseparation roller 56 which is rotated in the same direction as the feedroller 55 is arranged to prevent a multiple feeding of printing sheets.

Each cassette is arranged with a magnetized member 58 (on which 3-bitdata is recorded) at a specified position on a rear wall (left side inFIG. 2) thereof. A sheet sensor 57 is disposed at an appropriateposition on an inner side wall of the main body 1 opposing to themagnetized member 58 when the cassette is loaded in the main body 1. Thesheet sensors 57 and magnetized members 58 constitute a printing sheetdetecting portion. In a loaded state of the cassette, the sheet sensor57 reads a coded signal from the magnetized member 58 whose bitinformation is arranged according to the identification code identifyingwhat size of printing sheets are loaded in the cassette, therebydetecting the size of printing sheets in the cassette.

The sheet transport mechanism 6 comprises a sheet transport roller 61,sheet transport guide 62, registration roller pair 63, sheet transportguide 64, fixing portion 65, sheet discharge roller pair 66, and sheetdischarge tray 67.

A printing sheet, dispensed from the cassette and fed through the feedroller 55 and separation roller 56, is transported along a sheettransport path by the transport roller 61 or transport guide 62 towardthe imaging assembly 4. The thus transported printing sheet istransported to the transfer portion 44 of the imaging assembly 4 by theregistration roller pair 63 as timed with exposure/scanning timing ofthe scan unit 3 to transfer a toner image onto the printing sheet. Theprinting sheet carrying the transferred image is guided to the fixingportion 65 including a heater roller 65a and presser roller 65b alongthe sheet transport guide 64, and discharged onto the sheet dischargetray 67 by the sheet discharge roller pair 66.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of control system of thefacsimile machine according to the present invention. Reference numeral100 denotes a controller including a micro computer. The controller 100controls overall operations on receiving and transmitting data from andto other facsimile machine(s).

The controller 100 is connected to the memory unit 101 (RAM) which isadapted for temporarily storing transmitted data in such a manner thatdata stored in the memory unit 101 can be read out and written in thecontroller 100 according to needs.

The controller 100 is connected to the scan unit 3 in such a manner thatimage data of an original document is input to the controller 100through the light source 31, CCD34, and image processing portion 35 ofthe scan unit 3. The controller 100 outputs a signal to the imagingassembly 4 via a print processing block 102, and also outputs a drivesignal to a motor drive block 103 which is adapted for driving therollers in the sheet transport mechanism 6.

In receiving data from other facsimile machine(s), data is temporarilystored in the memory unit 101. Then, the controller 100 reads out thedata in the memory unit 101 and outputs a process signal to the printprocessing block 102 where a specified image processing is conducted.Then, in the imaging assembly 4, an image is formed based on thetransmitted and processed data, thereby printing the image on a printingsheet transported by the sheet transport mechanism 6. At this time, thecontroller 100 identifies the size of printing sheets stored in thecassette 52 based on a signal detected by the printing sheet detectingportion.

In transmitting data to other facsimile machine(s), the controller 100operates as follows. In transmitting data of a plurality of documents,for example, the documents are placed on the automatic document feeder2, and the scan unit 3 successively reads the image of the respectivedocuments to obtain image data. The thus obtained image data is coded bya coding/decoding block 104, and the coded data is transmitted to atelephone line via a modem 105 and NCU 106.

The controller 100 is internally provided with RAM 107, editing block108, dividing block 109, judgment block 110, and output control block111. The RAM 107 stores the transmitted image data as well asinformation on a result of data transmission. The editing block 108edits data in such a manner that the transmitted image data follows theinformation on the data transmission result (coded data), therebyobtaining resultant data for preparing a monitor report. The dividingblock 109 divides the data into a plurality of block data according toone side of printing sheet in parallel with the sheet transportdirection. The judgment block 110 judges whether the block datacorresponding to the last page of monitor report is solely thetransmitted image data. The output control block 111 inhibits a printout operation of the last page, if it is judged that the block datacorresponding to the last page is only the data of transmitted image.

More specifically, the controller 100 reads out the coded data and thetransmitted image data both of which are stored in the RAM 107. Theediting block 108 edits data in such a manner that the transmitted imagedata follows the coded data, thereby obtaining resultant data forpreparing a monitor report. At this stage, if the size of printing sheetdetected by the sheet sensor 57 is the size other than the specifiedsize, i.e., B5 size in this embodiment, the dividing block 109 dividesthe resultant data on monitor report into a plurality of block datacorresponding to the side of printing sheets in the sheet transportdirection (shorter side of B5-sized printing sheets in this embodiment).Then, if it is judged that the block data corresponding to the last pageof monitor report is the transmitted image data alone, the controller100 controls the output control block 111 to inhibit printing of thelast page.

Judgment as to whether the data corresponding to the last page is thetransmitted image data alone is conducted based on the presence orabsence of boundary portion on the data corresponding to the last pageor the amount of data stored in the RAM 107 corresponding to the lastpage. This judgment may be a judgment as to whether the datacorresponding to the last page is coded data (and image data) or imagedata only.

Note that transmitted image data to be edited by the editing block 108may correspond to at least a leading page (first page) of the documentswhose image has been transmitted.

An example of control operations of the control system having the abovearrangement is described with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 4.

When data transmission by the facsimile machine is completed in Step S1,it is judged whether a report on the data transmission is to be printedin Step S2. If the report is not to be printed (NO in Step S2), thisroutine ends. If the report is to be printed (YES in Step S2), thisroutine proceeds to Step S3.

In Step S3, it is judged whether the report is printed on printingsheets of predetermined size (in this embodiment, A4-size). If thereport is printed on printing sheets of a size other than A4-size (NO inStep S3), this routine proceeds to Step S4. If the report is printed onprinting sheets of A4-size (YES in Step S3), it is then judged in StepS5 whether printing sheets of A4-size are stored in the cassette. If theprinting sheets of A4-size are stored (YES in Step S5), the controlportion 100 allows the imaging assembly 4 to form image formation onA4-sized printing sheets in Step S6. If the printing sheets of A4-sizeare not stored (NO in Step S5), this routine proceeds to Step S4.

In Step S4, it is judged whether printing sheets of B5-size whose longerside is in parallel with the main scanning direction (i.e., widthwisedirection of the facsimile machine) are stored in the cassette. If it isjudged the printing sheets of B5-size in the above condition are notstored (NO in Step S4), this routine ends. If it is judged that theprinting sheets of B5-size are stored (YES in Step S4), this routineproceeds to Step S7 where a first page of the report is printed on oneof the B5-sized printing sheets. Then, this routine proceeds to Step S8.

In Step S8, it is judged whether a following page contains only thetransmitted image data. If the following page contains data other thanthe transmitted image data (NO in Step S8), this routine goes to Step 59where printing of the report on the following page is allowed and thenreturns to Step S8.

On the other hand, if it is judged that the following page does notcontain data other than the transmitted image data, i.e., contains onlythe transmitted image data (YES in Step S8), this routine ends withoutprinting the data on the following page. Accordingly, in the case shownin FIG. 6, the print control unit will prohibit the print out of theimage data on a second B5 size printing sheet as it is apparently judgedthat the last page of B5 size print sheet would only contain the imagedata of the transmitted image data.

According to the present invention, in case that the facsimile machineruns short of printing sheets of A4-size which is the standard formatsize for printing a monitor report, and B5-sized printing sheets whoselonger side is in parallel with the main scanning direction of thefacsimile machine are available, if it is judged that the block datacorresponding to the last page of report contains transmitted image dataalone, the controller 100 controls the output control block 111 toinhibit printing of the last page of monitor report.

Accordingly, consumption of printing sheets can be reduced, since thefacsimile machine of this invention does not controllably print the lastpage of monitor report under the above-mentioned conditions according tothe operation of the user. Further, there can be reduced operation timeof the facsimile machine after data transmission, since printing of thelast page is prohibited under the above conditions.

The present invention is not limited to a facsimile machine providedwith two cassettes each containing A4-sized printing sheets whoseshorter side is in parallel with the main scanning direction of thefacsimile machine and 35-sized printing sheets whose longer side is inparallel with the main scanning direction of the facsimile machine, butmay be applicable to any other case as long as a cassette containsprinting sheets whose one side in parallel with the main scanningdirection covers the area of line image sensor.

Alternately if the predetermined size sheets, A4 size printing sheet, isavailable, then still it is possible to inhibit the print out of theimage data on the last page of printing sheet if it is judged that onlythe transmitted image data is to be printed on the last page of theprinting sheet. Thus such alternate procedure would be indicated by thedotted lines connecting a step S5 to a step S7 in FIG. 4.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that various changes and modifications will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such change andmodifications depart from the scope of the invention, they should beconstrued as being included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A facsimile machine with a plurality ofcassettes, capable of printing a transmission report including firstdata and second data on a printing sheet accommodated in the cassettewhere the first data being a result of the transmission and the seconddata being an image data of a transmitted data, comprising:a memory unitfor storing the first data and the second data therein to be read out;an editing unit for reading out the first data and the second data fromthe memory unit and formulating a resultant data in a unit ofpredetermined size for the transmission report; a sheet size set unitfor detecting and setting a size of printing sheet on which theresultant data is to be printed; a divider unit for dividing theresultant data into a plurality of block data according to the size setby the sheet size set unit; a judgment unit for judging whether theblock data corresponding to the last page of report is solely the seconddata; and a print control unit for inhibiting printing of the seconddata on the last page of report when it is judged that the block datacorresponding to the last page of report is solely the second data bythe judgment unit.
 2. A facsimile machine according to claim 1, whereinthe size set by the sheet size set unit is the same as the size of thepredetermined size.
 3. A facsimile machine according to claim 2, whereinthe sheet size set unit includes a sensor for detecting the size ofprinting sheets accommodated in the cassette.
 4. A facsimile machineaccording to claim 3, wherein the sheet size set unit sets a printingsheet accommodated in the other cassette whose size is smaller than thepredetermined size when the sensor detects the absence of printingsheets of the predetermined size in the one cassette.
 5. A facsimilemachine according to claim 4, wherein the size of printing sheets set bythe printing sheet size set unit, when the sensor detects the absence ofprinting sheets of the predetermined size, is set such that the longerside thereof is in parallel with the widthwise direction of main body ofthe facsimile machine and greater than the width of the printing sheetof the predetermined size.
 6. A facsimile machine according to claim 1,wherein the printing sheet size set unit allows a selection of aprinting sheet accommodated in the other cassette regardless of adetection result of printing sheets of the predetermined size in the onecassette.
 7. A facsimile machine according to claim 1, furthercomprising a report output instruction unit for selectively instructinga print out of the transmission report and inhibiting a print out of thetransmission report.